Glasgow Airport Monorail link could really take off

Glasgow Airport Monorail link could really take off :Channel Tunnel engineer Jim Beckett, 78, says his proposal to link the terminal to towns and tourist destinations in the west of Scotland is better than a mooted tram-train scheme.

A retired engineer has revealed an alternative vision for improved transport links to Glasgow Airport .

Jim Beckett, 78, says a monorail is the ideal solution for shuttling passengers to and from the terminal.

He slammed the idea of train-tram project, which was discussed this week at summit between the transport minister and council chiefs.

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Jim, who helped designed the Channel Tunnel, says his Â£300million seven-mile proposal is better value than the mooted solution, as itâs less than half the price.

He told the Paisley Daily Express: âThe route chosen for the monorail includes major centres of population and retail and leisure venues on the west Clyde corridor and would be a powerful economic driver for this area.

âIn its first two kilometres, after leaving Glasgow Airport, the route gives the passengers a taste of Scottish scenery, with views of the Old Kilpatrick hills, and, from Renfrew to Glasgow, gives views of a revitalised Clyde waterfront.

âThe intent of the tram-train is to take passengers from the airport direct to Glasgow Central Station, with one stop at Paisley Gilmour Street.

âThose wishing to travel directly to the city can, at present, take an express bus.

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âThis trip takes 15 minutes and is a perfectly acceptable mode of travel for arriving and departing passengers.

âHowever, during peak rush hours â barring an accident on the M8 â this journey can take up to 40 minutes.

âThe tram-train is being proposed to solve a problem which only exists for a maximum of six hours per day.

âWe are going to spend at least Â£144million of public money on a solution which adds nothing to the transport infrastructure of the west of Scotland.â

Jimâs electric monorail would also have stops in Renfrew and Braehead .

It would also call at Glasgowâs Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the Riverside Museum, SECC, Linthouse, Govan, Kelvinhaugh, Finnieston and Plantation.

He has calculated projected passenger numbers for his project, based on that route, in a comparison with the Edinburgh tram system.

Jim says it is âreasonable to assume passenger numbers would be similarâ at around five million each year â an average of 67 per train each day.

He added: âThe tram-train route would introduce investors, business people and tourists to Scotland through an area of post-industrial dereliction between Shields Road and Glasgow Central.

âThis is not the image of Scotland we want to promote.â

Jim, of Brookfield, says his raised-platform monorail means the route could cross over busy roads and motorways.

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He has highlighted a stretch of the proposed tram-train line which would have to traverse the M8 and A726 before joining the network.

Jim continued: âThe proposed line of the tram-track from the terminal to the Network Rail main line is just over one kilometre.

âWith a projected cost of Â£144m in total, this would make this piece of track one of the most expensive constructed in the UK.â